Interoperability is the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to communicate across jurisdictions, disciplines, and levels of government as needed and as authorized. Reliable, timely communications among public safety responders and between public safety agencies and citizens are critical to effectively saving lives in many cases.​

Traditional voice capabilities, such as land mobile radio (LMR) and landline 9-1-1 services, have long been and continue to be critical tools for communications. However, internet protocol-based technologies in public safety have increased the type and amount of information responders receive, the tools they communicate with, and the complexity of new and interdependent systems. New technologies increase the need for coordination across public safety disciplines, communications functions, and levels of government to ensure emergency communications capabilities are interoperable, reliable, and secure.